White Collar: The Eye of Sita
Chapter Twenty-Six
"I found you! I found you!"
Neal looked down at Alice who was tugging on his tailored pant leg. He smiled as she crossed her arms over her chest and put on her best pout.
"What's wrong, Alice?"
"You don't play by the rules." Alice complained.
"No, he doesn't." Sara agreed.
"Who are you?" Alice asked. "Are you his girlfriend?"
"Sometimes." Sara chuckled.
"Alice, Darling," Glass stepped up and tousled her blonde hair "go find your brother."
"Yes, Granddad." Alice motioned for Neal to bend down to her level.
"Yes, Alice?" Neal asked as he crouched down.
"She's pretty." Alice whispered in Neal's ear.
"I agree."
"Go on, Alice, off with you." Glass smiled.
With Neal still crouched down to her level Alice thanked him once more for the frog before throwing her arms around his neck for a quick hug before she ran off. Neal glanced up at Glass who was watching Alice leave with a loving expression.
"You have a wonderful granddaughter." Neal remarked as he stood back up.
"Thank you. My family is my life." Glass said proudly. "Do you have any children, Daniel?"
"A son...I lost him when he was only four."
"I am so sorry to hear that." Glass said sincerely.
"It was a violent death," Neal whispered as though relieving the traumatic event that never occurred "complexly preventable."
"I can't imagine the pain."
Neal tensed slightly as Glass reached out and put his hand on his shoulder, however the touch appeared to be one of genuine sympathy. Neal had been testing his reaction and found nothing that hinted towards a guilty conscious. That told Neal that either Glass truly knew nothing about Daniel's son, or he was a complete sociopath.
"If you two would rather eat in privacy I would understand." Glass offered. "We can talk later."
"Everything seems to already be set down here, we don't want to be rude." Neal replied. "We already agreed to join you for dinner."
"Wonderful. I have an excellent wine selection." Glass smiled. "I find that you artistic types tend to enjoy fine wines."
"Do you entertain artists often?"
"I entertain all kinds." Glass chuckled before offering his hand to Sara. "But rarely do I get to enjoy the company of such beauty."
Sara hesitated but she placed her hand in Glass' and accepted a gentlemanly kiss to the back of her hand. When Glass turned to walk towards the dinner table Sara reached over and wiped her kissed hand off on Neal's jacket. Neal tried to pull away, but she was too quick. Sara flashed him a triumphant smile before joining Glass at the dinner table.
Dinner consisted of several courses of fine gourmet food. The main dish of glazed salmon more than rivaled most restaurants Neal had dinned in, and the wine had been perfectly selected to complement the bright pink fish. Neal noticed that Sara only ate enough to be polite, showing that she was still nervous around Glass. Eventually the plates were cleared and Glass got to his feet.
"Miss Taylor, if I could borrow Daniel for a few minutes I would greatly appreciate it."
"Of course." Sara replied with a polite smile.
"Thomas will show you back to the studio."
Neal was taken by surprise by the way the guard materialized out of seemingly no where. Sara glanced to Neal and he gave her a slight nod. Glass noticed the exchange and smiled.
"I have no reason to hurt either of you." Glass reminded them. "Two of my grandchildren are in the house tonight, I would never risk violence with them around."
"I believe you." Neal said confidently.
"You can never be too careful in our line of work." Sara said without apology.
"Very true, my Dear, but there is nothing to fear here."
Again Neal tried to determine if Glass' words were from sincerity or just a well done act. If it was an act it was the best he'd ever seen. Sara left with Thomas and headed back towards the studio. Meanwhile Glass lead Neal through the hallways to a large study. Neal suddenly realized that without Sara Peter couldn't listen in on their conversation together. The ear piece was too conspicuous to wear and it was useless when placed in a pocket.
Glass invited Neal into a study that held a large mahogany desk in front of a window that had thick red curtains drawn. Neal's eye was instantly drawn to a Rembrandt that was on the wall. He knew the piece well, he'd had plans to steal it at one point, but it was sold at auction and disappeared before he got the chance. Distracted by the painting Neal didn't even notice that there was someone sitting in one of the large chairs in front of the desk with his back to them.
"Mr. Caffrey, this is...I'm sorry, I didn't get your name." Glass said with good social grace.
Neal managed to bite down on his tongue to keep from showing any outward signs of surprise when Daniel rose up from the chair and turned to face them. Daniel saw Neal and froze for a second before turning his attention to Glass. Neal looked to Glass, but he didn't seem to have noticed the flash of fear that Neal had caught in Daniel's eyes. Daniel pulled his shoulders back to enhance his already impressive height as he put his hands behind his back.
"Call me 'White'." Daniel said calmly.
"Mr. White, this is Daniel Caffrey, the artist."
Daniel's only response to hearing his own name was a bored stare. Neal noticed a recent bruise across Daniel's right cheek, but he couldn't remember if he was the one who had given it to him. However there was a thin fresh cut across his throat as though a blade had been pressed there that Neal knew he hadn't caused. Glass was visibly uneasy with Daniel's presence and Daniel did nothing to make him feel any better.
"Glass," Neal turned to Glass and lowered his voice "I don't like working with people I don't know, and I certainly don't feel comfortable working with people that you don't know either."
"I've been assured that his trustworthiness and loyalty are absolute."
"Assured by who?"
"My client."
"Who's your client."
"Mr. Caffrey, if you don't want this job feel free to walk away. I will pay you for your trouble, but only half the sum offered. Stay and I'll triple your fee."
"So I'm free to just walk out that door?" Neal asked doubtfully.
"Of course."
"He won't try to stop me?" Neal gestured toward Daniel.
"His only role here is to ensure the security of my diamonds during the last stages of your sculpture."
"Yet you don't even know his name."
"The details are none of your concern, Mr. Caffrey." Glass growled darkly. "All I need to know is are you staying or leaving?"
Neal had absolutely no intention of leaving, but he paused as though thinking it over. He glanced over at Daniel. Looking nervous Daniel silently pleaded from him to go. Neal furrowed his brow slightly at Daniel's request for him to walk away. Neal turned his attention back to Glass.
"I'll stay, but Miss Taylor gets to go home."
"Is that acceptable, Mr. White?" Glass asked.
"I'm only interested in the artist." Daniel said gruffly. "The woman is free to go."
"So...why is having me stay suddenly worth triple?" Neal asked.
"I have something I want you to add to the statue."
"This is what you need my 'discretion' for." Neal stated rather than asked.
"Exactly." Glass nodded. "Come have seat, can I get either of you a brandy."
"No, thank you." Neal and Daniel answered in unison.
"You're both from Texas, aren't you?"
"What makes you say that?" Neal asked with a touch of surprise.
"There is a certain cadence to your tone when you decline an offer from an elder. Something I've noticed on my trips to Texas."
Neal and Daniel looked at one another again, both sensing a trap. However Glass simply walked over to the small bar that was set in the side wall. While Glass went over and poured himself a drink Neal stepped up to Daniel. Daniel narrowed his eyes at Neal and mouthed his own name in a silent question as to why he was using his name as an alias. Neal flashed Daniel an apologetic smile. Looking somehow broken Daniel just dropped his gaze to the floor and sat back down.
Neal took the chair next to Daniel and waited for Glass to return. When Glass went over to a wall safe Neal hopped that he was about to bring out the Hope Diamond. Glass pulled out a black box the size of an unabridged oxford dictionary and brought it over to the desk. He sat down across the table from his guests and opened the box. Neal was disappointed to see several pounds of various sized cut diamonds. Daniel wasn't particularly impressed either.
"I get the feeling you two are used to seeing expensive things." Glass chuckled. "Most men gasp when confronted by fifty million dollars worth of diamonds."
"Diamond are only expensive because the supply is controlled." Neal shrugged as he reached out and took one of the stones for closer inspection. "I doubt this box of rocks cost you more than a million to purchase. These were cut in China, so that didn't add much to the costs."
"You know your diamonds, Mr. Caffrey." Glass said with approval.
"China cuts their stones too deep, it makes the carat value higher, but reduces the refractive sparkle that you get with an ideal cut."
"True." Glass nodded. "But your average consumer doesn't care, they just want a diamond."
"I assume these are African in origin. Blood diamonds?"
"Don't concern yourself with where they came from, concern yourself with where they are going. I want you to embed these into the statue of Sita to decorate her clothing."
"What about her eyes?" Neal asked.
"What about them?"
"Traditionally Hindu statues had large diamonds set in their eyes."
"No." Glass shook his head. "I want the eyes sculpted without stones."
"You don't trust me with your larger stones?" Neal asked with a raised eyebrow. "I can assure you that I can keep a secret. The finished statue will be much more impressive if you let me set the diamond eyes."
"Just do as your told, Caffery." Daniel hissed.
"I take it you're going to babysit me while I finish the statue?" Neal asked calmly. "Make sure I don't try to smuggle some of these stones out of here?"
"Something like that."
"Mr. Caffery, are you still interested in finishing your work?" Glass asked.
"Yes."
"How long will it take to complete the statue?"
"I should be done by sunrise."
"Perfect."
Glass got to his feet as his guard returned. Glass and Thomas escorted Daniel and Neal back upstairs to the studio. When they stepped inside Sara's eyes widened slightly at seeing Daniel, however she recovered quickly. Neal walked up to her and put his arms around her and brought his lips to her ear.
"Trust me." Neal whispered.
Neal gave Sara's cheek a kiss as he reached up behind her and undid the clasp on the transmitter necklace that she was wearing. He deftly caught the necklace as it fell and slipped it into his jacket pocket in one fluid motion.
"Go home, Hon." Neal said casually. "No sense in us both being up all night, I can finish the job from here."
"Are you sure?" Sara asked.
"I am. Call me when you get to the hotel."
Sara clearly didn't want to leave, however she went with Thomas. Neal had added the last part to make it clear to Glass that if Sara didn't call him soon he would be demanding an explanation. Glass handed over the heavy box of diamonds. He gave Daniel one last nervous glance before leaving.
"What are you doing here, Neal?" Daniel demanded as soon as they were alone.
"I'm looking for the Hope Diamond and your son. What are you doing here?"
"Following orders." Daniel sighed miserably. "Can Peter hear us?"
"He can." Neal nodded as he brought out Sara's necklace.
"Agent Burke," Daniel spoke directly to Peter "please don't arrest Glass, he is part of this, but he does not have my son, he doesn't have the Hope Diamond either. Please, my son's life depends on getting this statue delivered."
"Peter can't arrest Glass, so far he hasn't done anything illegal that we can prove." Neal explained. "How do you know Glass doesn't have your son?"
"Because I was just with the men who do." Daniel dragged his hands through his hair and started to pace back and forth.
"Daniel?"
"I had him in my arms, Neal." Daniel growled in frustration as he rubbed at the cut on his throat. "They took me to him just so they could tear him away from me again. They gave me new orders, I tried to fight them, I tried to say no...but they promised me that if I didn't do exactly what they wanted that in the end I would beg them to end his life myself just to put him out of his misery."
"Did they hurt him?" Neal asked concerned.
From the way Daniel's face went ashen pale Neal realized that they must have. Daniel looked like he was going to be sick at any moment. Neal stepped up to his friend and pulled him into a comforting embrace. Daniel accepted the supportive touch and rested his head on Neal's shoulder for a moment. Neal was sharply reminded of a time when Daniel was sixteen and he'd come to Neal in the middle of the night seeking comfort. At the time Neal had simply given him a shoulder to cry on without asking why. Just like then Daniel quickly composed himself and pulled away.
"They broke his wrist." Daniel whispered in horror. "I had already agreed to do anything they wanted and they still snapped his bones just to prove to me that they were willing to make him pay the price if I decided to back out. These men are monsters, Neal. I was forced to hold him while they did it. They laughed as I begged them to show mercy."
"I'm so sorry, Daniel." Neal said softly.
"They will not hesitate to kill him. Even if I do everything they want they will probably kill us both anyway."
"I'm not going to let that happen."
"I would have fought them to the death right then and there...but I can't do anything until Liam's safe."
"Liam?" Neal repeated in surprise. "My first alias?"
Daniel smiled slightly and just nodded.
"Daniel, Peter and I are going to do everything we can to help you get your son back. What do they want from you?"
Daniel didn't answer right away. He just started at the half finished statue that now dominated the center of the room. He seemed to be truly studying it. Even at this stage it was a beautiful work. Neal waited for an answer, but Daniel had become lost in thought.
"Daniel?"
"They sent me to bring them the statue."
"That could work to our advantage." Neal replied thoughtfully.
"They also want the artist so that he can do the 'finishing touches'."
"We can plan around that." Neal nodded.
"...and then they want me to kill him."
"Okay, that part of the plan could use some adjusting."